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Enzo Maresca makes Liverpool ‘almost impossible’ as Chelsea boss admits he is ‘a bit upset’

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Enzo Maresca makes Liverpool ‘almost impossible’ as Chelsea boss admits he is ‘a bit upset’

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca speaks after the Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield

Enzo Maresca applauds the fans at the final whistle of the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on October 20, 2024(Image: Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images)

Enzo Maresca believes his Chelsea side dominated the defeat to Liverpool but refused to be swayed by referee John Brooks’ decisions.

The Londoners suffered a narrow 2-1 Premier League defeat at Anfield on Sunday afternoon despite enjoying more of the possession in a closely fought game.

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Curtis Jones scored the winner in the 51st minute shortly after Nicolas Jackson equalized from Mohamed Salah’s penalty in the first half.

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And Maresca has been delighted with the performance of his team, which is already seven points behind leaders Liverpool in the first classification of the first category.

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“I think the performance was very good,” said the Chelsea manager. “We don’t like to drop points, but if you have to decide how to drop points…

“I have been here many times and I have seen that coming here to play against Liverpool is not easy.

“Although we controlled most of the game and dominated, we lost. We are not happy. We don’t like it. But the performance on and off the ball was very good.”

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Maresca added: “We conceded two goals. The first is a penalty that can happen. The second goal the way we conceded it, we told the boys that by defending like that we’ve avoided five or six goals by doing it already this season, but sometimes we’ll concede like that.

“To come here and not allow Liverpool chances and momentum is almost impossible because of the environment and the team.

“But for the most part we controlled the game very well, we have to be proud of that but a bit upset because we don’t like to lose.”

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Referee Brooks made a series of controversial calls that angered fans on both sides, first awarding and then disallowing another Liverpool penalty after rejecting Chelsea’s claims of a spot-kick after Trent Alexander -Arnold tangled with Jadon Sancho.

“I’m not happy because we lost, but I’m happy because of the team’s performance,” said Maresca. “The referee’s decisions were clear to you (the media) and me, but the referee is there to make the decision. Sometimes they are right and sometimes they are wrong.”

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